Arts, Briefly

Doris Lessing, the newly chosen Nobel laureate in literature, told a Spanish newspaper that the attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, were not “so bad” compared with the actions of the Irish Republican Army, Agence France-Press reported. Ms. Lessing, 88, right, the British author who said she had recently finished writing a book on war, told the Spanish newspaper El País in an interview published yesterday, “Sept. 11 was terrible, but if one re-examines the history of the I.R.A., what happened in the United States wasn’t so bad.” She added: “Some Americans believe I’m crazy. Many people died; two prominent buildings fell, but it was neither as terrible nor so extraordinary as they think.” In 2005 the Irish Republican Army, after a prolonged struggle against British rule in Northern Ireland, declared an end to its armed campaign.

Hogwarts Headmaster Is Outed

A gay headmaster at a British boarding school? The idea may not be particularly shocking to the literati or to those who have speculated on the Internet about the sexuality of Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and headmaster of Hogwarts, home to Harry Potter and his mates. But the revelation of Dumbledore’s sexuality by J. K. Rowling, author of the Potter adventures, inspired gasps, as well as applause, when she read and took questions from a full house at Carnegie Hall on Friday night, The Associated Press reported. One young fan asked if Dumbledore finds “true love,” and Ms. Rowling replied, “Dumbledore is gay.” She went on to explain that he was smitten with Gellert Grindelwald, a rival he defeated in a long-ago battle between good and evil. “Falling in love can blind us to an extent,” she said, adding that Dumbledore’s love was his “great tragedy.”

Vampires Rule the Box Office

“30 Days of Night,” distributed by Sony and starring Josh Hartnett, above, as the sheriff of an Alaska town beset by vampires, took in $16 million in North America in its debut weekend, ending the one-week reign of “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?” (Lionsgate) as box office champion. The Perry film, took in $12.1 million, according to estimates by the tracking company Media by Numbers, moving to second place. In third was the Disney comedy “The Game Plan,” with $8.1 million in its fourth week. “Michael Clayton” (Warner Brothers), starring George Clooney as a law firm’s fixer, took in $7.1 million in its third week to take fourth place. In its first weekend “Gone Baby Gone” (Miramax), the drama about a vanished child that is the directorial debut of Ben Affleck, came in at No. 5 with $6 million.

Beyoncé in Ethiopia

Some 5,000 fans gave an enthusiastic welcome to the R&B singer Beyoncé, above, when she began her world tour with a spirited two-hour performance on Saturday night in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, The Associated Press reported. The concert was presented as part of the country’s yearlong celebration of its 2,000th year according to the Coptic calendar. Ethiopia is not usually impressed by Western music, and the audience gave only a lukewarm reception to the rapper Ludacris, the opening act. “Rap music doesn’t suit Ethiopia,” said Michael Melake, 36, a local music promoter. “Ethiopians need a melody. Rap music is all about the message, and we don’t identify with that. It’s all about the black American experience, and we don’t relate to that.” As for Beyoncé’s popularity, Enoch Nicano, 30, a nightclub owner, offered an explanation: “She’s hot,” he said. “She’s more than hot.”

Amy Winehouse Arrested

The British pop singer Amy Winehouse was arrested in Bergen, Norway, for possession of marijuana, the BBC reported. Ms. Winehouse, her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, and a third person were taken into custody at a hotel and held overnight after being found with a quarter-ounce of the drug, a prosecutor said. She was released on Friday morning after paying a fine of 500 euros ($715). The prosecutor, Lars Morten, told The Associated Press, “She’s paid the fine, so this thing is over for us now.” Her spokesman, Shane O’Neill, said, “She was released without charge,” and added that her European tour would continue. Ms. Winehouse canceled concerts this year amid newspaper reports that she was in a rehab clinic.

Henry Fogel will step down as president and chief executive of the American Symphony Orchestra League when his five-year contract expires on June 30. The board has voted to appoint as his successor Jesse Rosen, now the league’s vice president and managing director. With nearly 1,000 member ensembles of all sizes, the league, established in 1942, supports and promotes America’s orchestras.

Met Museum Reopens Education Center

After three years of renovation and reconfiguration, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s education center is to reopen tomorrow. The Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education consists of 25,000 square feet of public space, including a meeting hall, art study room, lecture hall, studio, classrooms, library and teacher resource center.

America Singing

Deborah Voigt will perform songs from Broadway, and some surprises, when she opens the 2008 season of the American Songbook series at Lincoln Center, on Jan. 23. Among other performers to appear on 17 evenings of cabaret, folk, rhythm and blues, pop, country, rock and bluegrass in the Allen Room at Frederick P. Rose Hall are Kelli O’Hara (Jan. 26), John Lloyd Young (Feb. 23), K. D. Lang (Feb. 26-28), Christine Ebersole (Feb. 29) and Patti Smith, who ends the season on March 1.

Footnotes

The Roundabout Theater Company revival of “The Ritz” has been extended for a week, through Dec. 9 at Studio 54. ... The Wooster Group’s production of “Hamlet” at the Public Theater has been extended for two weeks, through Dec. 2. ... As the second production of its season, the Atlantic Theater Company will present the world premiere of “Trumpery” by Peter Parnell. Previews begin on Nov. 14. Opening night is Dec. 5. ... The Jewish cabaret culture that flourished in Warsaw between the world wars will be evoked when the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene begins its 93rd season with Rebecca Joy Fletcher’s “Kleynkunst!” Starring Ms. Fletcher and Stephen Mo Hanan, the show will run from Nov. 18 through Dec. 30. ... The Tony Award winner Chita Rivera will perform songs from “West Side Story,” “Sweet Charity,” “Chicago” and “The Rink,” among her other musicals, when she appears Nov. 6 through Nov. 24 at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency.